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Press release: Money worries on the rise: 2010 a bad year say almost a third of Britons

Monday 20th December 2010

Samaritans advises people not to suffer alone amid fears for 2011

Samaritans’ annual survey of the nation’s worries, published today, shows that nearly 60 per cent (57%) of people in the UK fear they will not have enough money to live comfortably next year, with well over a third (37%) worried about losing their jobs or having difficulty finding work.

The YouGov poll of more than 2,000 people identified money (debt and bank balance) as one of the nation’s biggest concerns of the past year as well, with more than half (53%) of the UK population saying it was one of their top-five worries of 2010, compared with 48 per cent in 2009.

The other main sources of anxiety during 2010 were physical health (reported by 32% of people), relationships with family and friends (30%), domestic politics (28%) and world affairs (26%). In 2009, the nation’s top-five worries aside from money were relationships with family and friends (35%), physical health (32%), job security (24%) and workplace stress (24%).

The survey also found that 2010 was considered a bad year or the worst year ever by 30 per cent of the population – a rise from 24 per cent in 2009. It showed too that more than a fifth (21%) of people didn’t seek support from anyone to help them cope with their worries.

Other key findings were:

the fear of redundancy is widespread – 38 per cent of those in lower social groups (C2DE) and 36 per cent of those in higher social groups (ABC1) similarly fear losing their jobs or having difficulty finding work next year

well over half (56%) of people are worried they will suffer directly in 2011 from cuts in spending on public services

just over three-quarters (76%) of unemployed people and half (50%) of those who are retired are anxious they won’t have enough money to live comfortably next year

nearly a quarter (23%) of households with children are concerned that they may lose their home.

Samaritans’ Chief Executive, Catherine Johnstone, said: “As a nation, we continue to worry about our health and our relationships, but, unsurprisingly, our concerns have become increasingly focused over the past year on having enough money to live comfortably. It’s also clear that, no matter what work we do or where we live, many of us are anxious about keeping our jobs and our homes. The most important thing to remember in these tough times is that we can all help each other and no one should suffer alone.

“We are appealing to anyone facing difficulties, no matter what they are, to call Samaritans. Our volunteers will be there to listen to your worries 24 hours a day, every day, over the Christmas period and throughout the coming year.”

For further information about the survey or to set up interviews please contact Press & PR on 020 8394 8342 or email press@samaritans.org.

Notes to Editor

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2138 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken from 30 November to 2 December 2010. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

For the 2009 survey, total sample size was 2082 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken from 27 to 30 November 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures were weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

About Samaritans

For people experiencing emotional distress and struggling to cope, our volunteers are there 24/7 to offer confidential, non-judgmental support to anyone feeling down, unhappy, anxious or stressed, by phone: 116 123; email: jo@samaritans.org; or face-to-face: visit http://www.samaritans.org/ for details of your local branch.

People talk to us anytime they like, in their own way - about whatever’s getting to them. You don't have to be suicidal.

Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales. Founded in 1953 by the late Prebendary Dr Chad Varah CH CBE.

Samaritans is a charity registered in England and Wales (219432) and in Scotland (SC040604) and incorporated in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (757372). Samaritans Ireland is a charity registered in the Republic of Ireland (20033668) and incorporated in the Republic of Ireland as a company limited by guarantee (450409). Samaritans in Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland (SC009843) and incorporated as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.